Retired International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) International President Robert “Bob” Martinez Jr. has been inducted into the Texas AFL-CIO Labor Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes his more than 43 years of leadership and service to workers in Texas, the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Martinez began his career in 1980 as an aircraft assembler at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, joining IAM Local 776A after serving in the U.S. Navy. Reflecting on his early days during his induction speech at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention, Martinez said: “When I first walked through the doors at General Dynamics as a member of IAM Local 776A, fresh out of the United States Navy, I wasn’t thinking about titles or awards. I was thinking about earning a living, taking care of my family, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women next to me on the job.”
Over time, Martinez rose through union ranks to become IAM’s 14th International President in 2016. He became both the first Latino to lead IAM and the first Latino president of a major labor union in U.S. history.
Jody Bennett, IAM Resident General Vice President and longtime member of IAM District 776, introduced Martinez at the ceremony. Bennett noted: “Bob’s story is a labor story. It’s a Texas story. And it’s an American story,” adding that Martinez initially aimed simply to support his coworkers and improve workplace conditions.
IAM International President Brian Bryant commended Martinez’s achievements: “Bob Martinez is a leader whose commitment to working people helped shape the modern IAM and strengthened the labor movement around the world,” Bryant said. “This recognition reflects the impact he made not just in Texas, but the countless lives he changed along the way.”
During his tenure as International President from 2016 until his retirement in 2024, Martinez led initiatives that expanded organizing efforts into new industries and developed programs for member assistance. His leadership also resulted in financial stability for IAM and created more opportunities for women and underrepresented groups within union leadership roles.
Martinez advocated for workers during significant events such as the COVID-19 pandemic by helping preserve many union jobs nationwide. In addition to his work within IAM, he held positions on national bodies including membership on the AFL-CIO Executive Council; chairmanship of its Industrial Union Council; participation on the U.S. President’s Export Council; advocacy for domestic manufacturing; promotion of Buy American standards; and representation for aerospace workers globally as IndustriALL’s global aerospace chairman.
Despite holding national roles throughout his career—often traveling between Washington D.C., other cities across North America or abroad—Martinez emphasized maintaining ties with Texas: “For decades—whether I was in Washington, D.C., or wherever this work took me—everyone knew one thing about me: I represented Texas,” he stated during his speech.
Martinez retired from active service with IAM in 2024 after more than four decades advocating solidarity among workers while upholding values rooted in justice and dignity.
